Members of the All J&K Army Porters’ Union protest in Jammu on Sunday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 20

The All J&K Army Porters’ Union has alleged that they were recruited in their respective areas by the Army as ‘Army civilian porters’ during the Kargil war from 1999 to 2004 but they were not given jobs by the government despite assurances to this effect.The union members, hailing from Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Akhnoor, Poonch and Rajouri, while briefing the media today alleged that they served in most difficult terrains during the war and many porters lost their lives.They added that the government had given financial help as well as jobs to kin of the porters killed during the war while the rest were waiting for their engagement as per promises made by the government.“After the Kargil war, the Army authorities verbally assured us and handed over certificates to every individual porter and promised us that preference would be given to Kargil war porters during the recruitment. It is very difficult for us to earn livelihood for our family members. We spent precious time of our life for the sake of our motherland,” a statement said.“The government has framed a policy for surrendered militants who were involved in anti-national activities but the ill-fated Army porters are still deprived of jobs,” it added.